PMC:4143611 / 20449-21310 JSONTXT

CD is most commonly treated by surgical removal of the transgressing pituitary adenoma. Reported success rates vary widely and could be a result of surgeon expertise, reliability or timing of assays, or cut-off levels used to define remission. Furthermore, prophylactic measures, such as the use of pre- and/or peri-operative glucocorticoids or steroidogenesis inhibitors may confound results from biochemical assays performed soon after surgery [5]. It has recently been suggested that peri-operative use of glucocorticoids may be unnecessary and that they should be administered only if a biochemical or clinical need is confirmed [5]. Consideration of these variables is important because recurrence of CD following TSS is not uncommon and the current common perception is that post-surgical cortisol levels may predict a patient’s predisposition to relapse.